Joe Cole delivers reaction as West Ham drawn against Lyon in Europa League

Follow us on Google Discover

West Ham have been drawn against French side Lyon in the Europa League quarter-finals after knocking Sevilla out on Thursday night. Joe Cole has given his instant verdict on BT Sport, confident West Ham can win the tie.

West Ham booked their place in the last eight after knocking Sevilla out of the last 16, thanks to Andriy Yarmolenko’s extra-time winner. Tomas Soucek had earlier cancelled out Sevilla’s 1-0 lead from the first leg.

Ahead of the quarter-final draw, West Ham could have come up against Barcelona, RB Leipzig, Braga, Rangers, Frankfurt or Atalanta. Seven different countries represented by the eight teams in the last eight.

But it was Lyon that West Ham will face in the next round, the first game being at the London Stadium on April 7 – and the return leg a week later in France. Cole declared himself “absolutely delighted” with Lyon.

“I’m absolutely delighted. It could have been a glamour tie, Rangers have had the plumb tie with Braga. But Lyon are not what they once were. With the carrot of Barcelona in the semi-final, it sets it up lovely.

“It is a lovely place to go, brilliant stadium, history. The West Ham fans will be booking their tickets as we speak I expect. I’ll pull my boots on if they want, three or four minutes left in me. Always a strong team.

“They were always recruit powerful players. It will be a well-matched game physically, but West Ham will fear no-one. David Moyes and his team will rightfully be thinking there is a path through to the final here.”

Cole on West Ham v Lyon: Hammers have a real chance of glory

Lyon have been poor this season. Despite the arrival of ex-Dortmund gaffer Peter Bosz as manager, and knocking Porto out in the last round, domestically they have fallen way below expectation in Ligue 1.

They have won just 11 of 28 league matches this season, sitting in a lowly 10th place – despite harbouring pre-season ambitions of a Champions League place. West Ham have a real chance, if they keep their big stars fit.